50 applications in for new eco-towns

Wednesday, 7 November 2007 12:00 AM

The government has revealed there have been 50 applications from across the UK for new eco-towns.

The announcement follows prime minister Gordon Brown's commitment to build ten such towns over the next decade.

Giving further details of the government's housing policy in the wake of the Queen's Speech yesterday, housing minister Yvette Cooper said the plans were positive for the country.

"This government is putting unprecedented investment into new and affordable housing, to give first-time buyers and young families a foot onto the ladder," said Ms Cooper.

"New homes will be greener to tackle the challenge of climate change, with world-beating environmental standards. We're building the first new towns for several generations, with ten new eco-towns across the country."

The new developments will be the first new towns in the UK since Milton Keynes and Stevenage were established in the 1960s.

The government's policy was put forward in two bills in the Queen's Speech; the housing and regeneration bill and the planning bill.

It is hoped 240,000 new homes will be built annually until 2016, with three million new homes by 2020.

All the new homes built will meet high environmental standards, and to zero carbon standards from 2016 - with up to a million zero carbon homes in the next decade from then.

One key element of the government's policy was the creation of the new Homes and Communities Agency, which will replace the existing English Partnerships and Housing Corporation.

The new agency will bring together the land and potential investment for new homes - combining a responsibility for surplus public sector land and its own multi-billion pound budget.

The plans were also welcomed by communities secretary Hazel Blears.

"This government is facing up to the big challenges we face as a nation - climate change, globalisation, energy security and demographic change," said Ms Blears.

"The bills announced today will help us achieve this by delivering a better planning system for infrastructure and better homes."

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